Miramax, Rudin nab ‘Unnamed’

Ferris' novel to be published by Little, Brown

Miramax Films and producer Scott Rudin have acquired screen rights to “The Unnamed,” an upcoming novel by Joshua Ferris about a man who comes down with a mysterious affliction that fractures his family.

Deal comes the same week that Ferris’ last novel, “Then We Came to the End,” was awarded the 2008 Hemingway Foundation/Pen Award; the novel is also a finalist for the National Book Award. Ferris is adapting “End” for HBO.

Rudin acquired “The Unnamed,” to be published by Little, Brown, based on a partial manuscript sold by CAA.

He continues to be an aggressive acquirer of literature. The producer shared the picture Oscar with Joel and Ethan Coen for the adaptation of the Cormac McCarthy novel “No Country for Old Men,” and he exec produced the picture nominee “There Will Be Blood,” based on Upton Sinclair’s “Oil!” Last month he acquired Michael Chabon novel “The Yiddish Policemen’s Union” and set it at Columbia. He and the Coens will reteam on the project.

Rudin is currently in production on a Stephen Daldry-directed adaptation of Bernhard Schlink novel “The Reader,” with Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes starring.